Chapter 13

LORD TIM, SPACED UP ON FUNPILLS JETPACKS DOWN HAMPSTEAD MEGAWAY TO HIS SECRET PAD.

HE SPEAKS INTO HIS WRISTWATCH COMMUNICATOR IN WHICH HE CAN SEE THE FACE OF HIS BOYHOOD SELF BACK IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

I NEED YOU TO SHADOW A POTENTIAL WARP AGENT.

SURE THING, LORD TIM!THANKS, YOUNG ME. THE TIME SATELLITE HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THE VILLAIN WAS SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU IN THE OLDEN DAYS.WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HIM?

THAT’S ALL THE INTELLIGENCE WE HAVE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HIS PLAN?

HMM… WELL, IT'S MY THEORY THAT THIS PROTO-WARP AGENT DISCOVERED THEN THAT I WAS GOING TO BECOME SO IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE.

HE OBVIOUSLY ALSO HAS SOME KIND OF GRUDGE AGAINST YOU, OR OTHER REASON TO HARM YOU/ME. SO I THINK HE IS DECIDING TO SPY ON ME OVER THE YEARS UNTIL HE FINDS OUT SOMETHING HE CAN BLACKMAIL ME ABOUT.

THEN HE'S WAITED UNTIL NOW, WHEN I'VE BECOME LEADER OF THE HOUSE, TO REVEAL MY SECRET AND DISCREDIT ME AND THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT!

BUT DO WE HAVE A TERRIBLE SECRET, LORD TIM?

NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT, YOUNG TIM

BUT... IF YOU DID, YOU WOULDN’T ADMIT IT TO ME, WOULD YOU?

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT, KID?

YOU’D KEEP IT TO YOURSELF, YOUR TERRIBLE SECRET, WHERE IT WOULD EAT AWAY AT US AND CORRUPT US.

UM.. LOOK HERE: THE MAIN THING IS TO FIND THIS AGENT AND NEUTRALISE HIM.

BUT HOW?

WELL – EITHER BEFRIEND, ELIMINATE – OR MAKE SO MUCH TROUBLE FOR HIM THAT HE NEVER WANTS TO SEE YOU/ME AGAIN.

BUT HOW DO I IDENTIFY THE AGENT?

THE IF TIME SATELLITE HAS LOCATED A SUSPECT IN OUR TIME: “MISTER B”, BALD HEADED VILLAIN, SPREADING BAD VIBES AND STIRRING UP INSURRECTION ON THE MOON COLONY. HE HAS THE SLITTY EYED, GREEN-SKINNED HUE OF A VENUSIAN IMMIGRANT.

OUR NEW NEIGHBOUR ISN’T BALD, HE’S GOT VERY LONG HAIR. HE’S NOT GREEN EXACTLY, BUT SMOKES A LOT AND LOOKS PALE AND PASTY.

HE TALKS A LOT TO THE KIDS WHO LIVE ON THE STREET.

I’VE SEEN HIM TAKING PHOTOS OF THEM TOO WITH A STRANGE LOOKING CAMERA.

HE LAUGHS WITH THEM AND WINKS AT THEIR MOTHERS WHO HURRY BY, ALARMED.

IF I BEFRIEND HIM, HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF I’VE NEUTRALISED THE THREAT TO YOU?